VULVAR CANCER

Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer. It forms in a woman's external genitals, called the vulva. The cancer usually grows slowly over several years. First, precancerous cells grow on vulvar skin. This is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), or dysplasia. Not all VIN cases turn into cancer, but it is best to treat it early. Signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer may include:
• Itching that doesn't go away
• Pain and tenderness
• Bleeding that isn't from menstruation
• Skin changes, such as color changes or thickening
• A lump, wart-like bumps or an open sore (ulcer)

HOW IS VULVAR CANCER DIAGNOSED?

Diagnosis of the Vulvar Cancer is done by doing a tissue test along with a scan of the area.

HOW IS VULVAR CANCER TREATED?

Staging and treatment are generally handled by an oncologist familiar with gynecologic cancer. Surgery is a mainstay of therapy depending on anatomical staging and is usually reserved for cancers that have not spread beyond the vulva. Surgery may involve a wide local excision, radical partial vulvectomy, or radical complete vulvectomy with removal of vulvar tissue, inguinal and femoral lymph nodes. In cases of early vulvar cancer, the surgery may be less extensive and consist of wide excision or a simple vulvectomy. Surgery is significantly more extensive when the cancer has spread to nearby organs such as the urethra, vagina, or rectum. Complications of surgery include wound infection, sexual dysfunction, edema and thrombosis, as well as lymphedema secondary to dissected lymph nodes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Because it is asymptomatic, vulvar cancer does tend to spread very fast and hence the damage caused here could be fatal.